It's all in the details... Part Two

I am going to do my best to keep this short and to the point, but in all honesty, this one might be longer than the last...

Jonathan was taken to NICU 2 after birth, then during the night he was moved to NICU 3. The higher the number, the higher accuity. Although I saw him that night before I was taken to my room, I don't remember much, except that there were so many turns and the nurses had a hard time getting the gurney through the doors.

Now this next part is more for me than for you. I want to briefly give an account of the 5 weeks in the NICU. Each day, each nurse, doctor, respiratory tech, etc. represents a milestone for me and even though I have all of this in my journal, I don't just want to share it, but also create a digital copy.

DOL 2 (day of life 2): Jonathan was intubated at birth. On this day he was extubated. Julie was the nurse. Olivia and David met Jonathan. I may not remember everything about this day. I know a friend came to visit - JV - but I have no recollection.
DOL 3: Over night suffered a Pneumothorax - air bubble in right lung. Air was aspirated with needle. Dr. Herring and Veronica the PM nurse came to give us the news around 3 am. By morning, he was intubated once again. Martha was his nurse that day and the next. Dr. Boykin was there that weekend.

DOL 4: Got touch time with baby - I changed his diaper for the first time. CB/JT, RR/CM and Olguita came to see us.
DOL 5: Lydia was the day nurse. HandH were low and they had to transfuse. I remember not seeing the bag of blood. For those of us who have ever seen an adult receive a transfusion, you see a large bag of blood hanging from the IV stand. After taking a closer look, I finally found it. It was a syringe... not a bag. Everything is so different when it comes to little babies and you just can't imagine it until you are there. He had a head ultrasound to dismiss the thought that a cerebral hemorrhage was causing the low hemoglobin. Jonathan only received one transfusion in the 5 weeks we were there. Some babies receive as many as 35 transfusions. He was extubated once again (I think the RT was named Carlos. I remember his face. He also had his baby in the NICU once). I heard him cry for the first time after he cried at birth. I also saw him sucking. I was discharged. Left late and came back to say good night. Veronica was the night nurse which made me feel secure since she was there the night he had his pneumo. 
DOL 6: Good news! We were moved to NICU 2. Nurse was Stacey - she is from Jamaica. Head ultrasound came back clear. Cardio ultrasound was clear - small ASD (tiny hole in heart) should self resolve. Cardiologist had his daughter in the NICU too. She was born at 2 lbs 2 oz. She is 24 now.
Off vent for 24 hours, got a binkie and had his first poopie. Weighs 1370 gms (~ 3 lbs) from 1530 at birth.
DOL 7: Stacey recommended a PIC line to get rid of his UV and UA (umbilical vein/ umbilical artery lines). The PIC would protect his good veins from being ruined due to long term venous access for medication and nourishment. PIC went in. Started feeds - 3 mL x 6 hrs. I helped Stacey with a bath. Started physical therapy with Rocio. Had a few Apneas and Bradys. They were all self resolved. He would remain on oxygen for some time.

I will stop at DOL 7 and regroup. By this time, I was use to some of the terms and I was over the initial shock, but the fear still remained. It was an hour by hour journey. I was as dependent on the nurses and doctors as was Jonathan. For the first couple of days, I was sure that Jonathan would die. My prayer was literally "Lord, please don't let my son die". My prayer changed in the days ahead. The NICU started to grow on me. I was branded.

I usually close with a Bible verse. This verse I bookmarked on my BB so that I could read it anytime I needed it. Isaiah 40:31 - "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Rosie